videoconferencing

Videoconferencing allows students to engage with people outside of school without the time and hassle of travel. Students could interview experts while conducting research for an assignment, or they could learn about different careers by speaking with professionals in different areas. It's a great way to connect the curriculum to the outside world. The conferencing is conducted with a videophone, for example using a webcam (a small videocamera) and a [|Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP)] telephone service such as [|Skype] (Skype-to-Skype calls are free). Many laptops come with a built in video camera and microphone, or a webcam can be purchased separately for around $30.

Webcams can also be mounted in a remote location and allow students to make observations of anything, for example birds or traffic patterns.

=Your Mission=

You will have 15 minutes to research the use of videoconferences and webcams in education. Use the websites below to get started. Your goal is to add some examples of websites discussing good uses of videoconferences or webcams in the classroom to the bottom of this page. (To edit this page, click on the edit tab at the upper right of this page). At the end of the 15 minutes, you will make a brief presentation (1-2 minutes), which will


 * Define videoconferencing and webcams
 * Videoconferencing: "a set of interactive [|telecommunication] [|technologies] which allow two or more locations to interact via two-way video and audio transmissions simultaneously".
 * Webcams: the device used for interactive communication between two or more locations
 * Provide example(s) of how videoconferences or webcams can be used in your content area (be specific!)
 * Interview a war veteran from a different country.
 * Watch chemists perform a lab with equipment unavailable in the classroom.
 * Watch public speakers in college lectures.
 * Use webcams to "visit" museums that are far away
 * Setting up communication with someone in a different country to learn about his or her culture

Here are a few ideas to get you started: [] []